Filling carrier support for looms



Jan. 2, 1934. E. GATLIN FILLING CARRIER SUPPORT FOR LOOMS Filed Jan.

INVENTOR.

zz/f/e f/P .E GATL/N.

IV/TNES'S.

CLINTON S. CoeuE/Y.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITE oF'Ficf FILLING CARRIER SUPPORT FOR LOOMLuther E. Gatlin, Ncwberry, S. 0., assignor to Draper Corporation,Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Maine The present invention relates tofilling replenishing looms, of the type employing a rotary hopper forcarrying a reserve supply of filling carriers which are automaticallytransferred, one at a time as needed, into the shuttle.

One of the problems in connection with the successful construction ofthe rotary hopper type of filling replenishing mechanism is to providefor the proper positioning of the filling carrier next to be transferredand the holding of the same from dropping down or turning around beforeit is actually transferred to the shuttle. Devices intended to effectthe proper positioning of the filling carrier under the conditions mentioned have heretofore been developed. However, I propose to provide anovel and improved form of such device, having certain advantages whichwill be hereinafter pointed out.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the hopper end of theloom; and

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in plan and partly in section, of the mechanismshown in Fig. 1.

The loom to which my invention has been applied includes thereciprocating lay 1 carrying shuttle box 2, shuttle 3 operated by pickerstick 4, the filling replenishing mechanism to which further referencewill be made, and other well known mechanisms which form no part of thepresent invention and need not be illustrated or described.

The filling replenishing mechanism includes a rotary hopper 5 forholding a reserve supply of filling carriers 6, the hopper being rotatedstep by step to successively present the filling carriers to theposition occupied by the filling carrier 6, directly over the shuttlebox. A transferrer '7 is pivoted on a fixed stud 8 in the hopper stand9, and is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. l, by acoiled spring 10. The transferrer shown is provided with a head 11 and alaterally and downwardly extending portion 12 engageable, respectively,with the butt and tip of the filling carrier 6'. The transierrer isoperable by a dog 13 which is pivoted thereto at 14 and movable into thepath of a hunter 15 on the lay by suitable usual devices, not disclosedherein.

The loom, including the filling replenishing mechanism thus fardescribed, is not new and is not, per se, of my invention.

The filling carriers 6 in the hopper, as they assume the position 6',have a tendency to drop down out of the pockets 16 in the hopper, and

then to rotate about their own axes, dueto the vibration of the hopperincident to operation of the loom. It is to the proper holding of thefilling carriers in the hopper that my invention pertains.

Rigidly fixed to the stud 8, as by means of a set screw 1'7, is arearwardly extending arm 18, the arm being adjustable about and alongthe axis of stud 8. At its rearward end, the arm 18 carries a laterallyextending pin 19 secured in place by a set screw 20. A holding memberconstituted by a finger 21 is slotted at 22 iorengagement with the pin19, the finger 21 being positioned substantially on a radius of thefilling carrier 6, next to be transferred, and being slidable along suchradius.

The finger 21 is movable from its normal full line position shown inFigs. 1 and 2, where it contacts with the filling carrier 6' andpositively holds the latter in proper position, to the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 1, where it is entirely out of the path of thetransferrer. The finger is so moved during the transferring operation.

For normally holding the finger in its rearward, filling carriersupporting position, and removing it at the proper time, I provide alever 23 pivoted on a pin 24 in arm 18 and engageable with thetransferrer. The lower arm of the lever 23 is pivotally connected to theforward end of finger 21, as by a cotter pin 25 passingv through thelever and through the finger. The upper arm of the lever 23 ispreferably made in two parts, and one of the parts, 26, extendsrearwardly and bears on the top of laterally extending portion 12 of thetransferrer.

When the head of the transierrer is up, as shown, lever 23 will serve tohold the finger 21 in contact with filling carrier 6, as above stated.However, when the transferrer commences to move downwardly it releaseslever 23 and the weight of part 26 will cause the lever to rotate in aclockwise direction, Fig. l, and withdraw the finger from contact withthe filling carrier.

It is noted that when the finger is in its final withdrawn position itdeviates slightly from the radial line along which it is supposed tomove. One important advantage of having the finger move radially of thefilling carrier is that, then, the normal position of the finger may bemade adjustable to accommodate filling carriers of larger or smallerdiameter by merely making the length of the finger itself adjustable.

Accordingly the slight deviation from a true radial position when thefinger is completely withdrawn is immaterial. The desired adjustment mayconveniently be made by forming the forward end of the finger as athreaded rod, received in a threaded hole in the body portion of thefinger, as indicated in the drawing.

An important advantage of supporting the holding device on stud 8 is theconvenient manner in which the finger may be made bodily adjustable upand down and axially of the filling carrier.

It is, of course, to be understood that the'particular embodiment of myinvention herein disclosed is out illustrative of one manner in which myinvention may be carried into effect, the true scope of the inventionbeing defined inthe appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a replenishing mechanism for filling replenishing looms, a hopperfor holding a reserve supply of filling carriers, a fixed stud, atransferrer pivoted on said stud, an arm fixed to the stud, a fingerreciprocatably. supported by the said. arm for engagingthe fillingcarrier next to be transferred and holding it in place in the saidhopper, and means. for withdrawing. the said finger from engagement withthe filling. carrier during the transferring operation.

2. In a replenishing mechanism. for filling replenishing looms, a hopperfor holding a reserve supply'of filling carriers, a. transferrer, anad.- justable filling carrier supporting finger slidably mountedformovement radially of the filling:

3. In a replenishing mechanism for filling're plenishing looms, a hopperfor holding: a reserve supply of'filling carriers, a transferrer, a

filling carrier supporting member-slidably mounted for movement radiallyof the filling carrier next to be transferred, and means for normallyholding the said member in contact with saidfilling carrier toholdthelatter in place in the hopper, saidmeans withdrawing the said memberfrom engagement with said filling carrierduring the transferringoperation.

4. In a replenishing mechanism for filling replenishing'looms, a hopperfor holding a reserve supply of filling-carriers, a-transferrer, amemberslidably mounted-for movement radially ofthe filling" carrier next to betransferred, means operable by said transferrer for normally holding thesaid member in contact with said filling carrier to hold the latter inplace in the hopper, said means acting to withdraw the said memberduring the transferring operation, and means for adjusting the positionof the said member to accommodate filling carriers of larger or smallerdiameter.

5'. In a replenishing mechanism for filling replenishing looms, a hopperfor holding a reserve supply of filling carriers, a fixed stud, atransferrer pivoted on-said-stud, an arm fixed to the stud, a fingerslidably mounted on said arm for movement toward and from the fillingcarrier next to be transferred, a lever engageable with the saidtransferrer, said lever being connected to the said finger and servingto normally hold the latter against the said filling carrier, said leveracting to withdraw said finger during the transferring operation; andmeans for adjusting the position of the fingert'o accommodatefill'ingcarriers of larger or smaller diameter.

6. In a replenishing mechanism for filling replenishing looms, a hopperfor holding a reserve supply of filling carriers, a fixed stud, atransferrerpivoted on said stud, an arm' fi'xed to-the stud, a fingerslidably mounted on said arm for movement toward andfrom the fillingcarrier next to be transferred, a lever pivoted on said arm'and'engageable with the said transferrer; said lever being connected to thesaidfinger and serving to normally holdthe latter against thejustably-fi'xed w the stud, a pin iii-said arm, a-Eaii finger slidablymounted on said pin for move-- ment radially of the filling carrier nextto be transferred, a lever pivoted on said" arm andengageable withthesaid transferrer, said lever being connected to thesaid-finger andserving to normallyhold the latter-against thesaid filling carrier, saidleveractin'g towithdraw said finger during the transferring operation.

LUTHER GATLINL-

